Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/283908
Noah Cline - Posted - 04/27/2014: 16:37:50
Found these two yesterday when I was looking on eBay. The bottom one (I'm sure) is a Buckbee, but the other one I'm not sure. I've seen that peg head before on another older banjo.
I'm planning on fixing them up. The Buckbee looks fairly simple to fix, but the other one was evidently made into a mirror/wall-hanger, as someone glued a mirror to the head on the inside (so, remove the head, put a new one in), and has two holes (seen in the pic;) in the neck. It also had the dowel removed (looks like it was broken off; there's still part of it in the rim), so I'm debating on what to do for that (probably make one).
Been wanting to try my hand at "banjo restoration," so now these two will keep me busy.
Noah Cline - Posted - 04/27/2014: 16:45:19
Here's the one with the mirror:
pastorharry - Posted - 04/27/2014: 17:04:46
Once you get into it , it will probably be easier than you imagine. Good to see all the hardware there.. everything else you need should be easily obtainable from our very own Hangout swap, shop, buy and sell. Can't wait to see the end results.
Noah Cline - Posted - 04/27/2014: 17:12:46
quote:
Originally posted by pastorharry
Once you get into it , it will probably be easier than you imagine. Good to see all the hardware there.. everything else you need should be easily obtainable from our very own Hangout swap, shop, buy and sell. Can't wait to see the end results.
Seeing the majority of the hardware was one of the main reasons I bid on these.
Seeing the tailpiece on the Buckbee was a surprise. I've seen that same kind on another Buckbee before, but two of the prongs were broken off. Thankfully this one isn't broken. Kinda nice to find these older banjos with the majority of the parts. And what I paid for them was what I thought was a good price.
Noah Cline - Posted - 04/27/2014: 18:06:35
I really like the look of the wear on the fret board of the Buckbee; should look nice when I get it playable.
davidwigal - Posted - 04/27/2014: 19:18:57
I was wondering; don't you need a whole new neck on the one with the mirror in it? I am far from any type of expert but it looks as though the dowel-stick has been sawed-off; wouldn't that make the neck unstable if you were going to try to attach another one?
Culloden - Posted - 04/28/2014: 04:55:58
Great find, Noah. Have fun restoring them. You get a whole new perspective about the banjo by bringing one back to life. Both banjos are in reasonably good shape for their age so fixing them up should be just enough challenge to be fun.
Dowel sticks can be replaced. They just take a bit of work to get them out of the neck.
BTW I would be interested in finding a source for dowel sticks closer to home. I know Roger Siminoff sells them. Anybody else?
Edited by - Culloden on 04/28/2014 05:01:46
5stringJim - Posted - 04/28/2014: 06:25:14
quote:
Originally posted by davidwigal
I was wondering; don't you need a whole new neck on the one with the mirror in it? I am far from any type of expert but it looks as though the dowel-stick has been sawed-off; wouldn't that make the neck unstable if you were going to try to attach another one?
Well, a dowel stick is usually just a rectangular piece of wood with a round end turned onto it. You just drill out the old dowel stick from the end of the neck, and fit your new one. They may be turned on both ends, but it's probably the easiest part you could make for a banjo.
bigfiddle51 - Posted - 04/28/2014: 08:08:57
Wood you sale the black one I like to fix up one
Noah Cline - Posted - 04/28/2014: 15:10:37
quote:
Originally posted by bigfiddle51
Wood you sale the black one I like to fix up one
Just got on and seen your post.
Make me an offer. I was planning on fixing them up and re-selling them anyway. Just P.M. me.
bigfiddle51 - Posted - 04/28/2014: 17:02:32
I wouldn't know what to offer you sir. I would like to have an open back and try to fix it up myself to see if I could HI are you my name is Jimmy
guywolff - Posted - 04/29/2014: 17:13:54
Great find Noah !!
rockil - Posted - 04/30/2014: 06:58:10
here is a old tener banjo that i am fixing up it looks like the hardware is the same style as the one you have with the mirror in it the head stock is close to yours on mine the only thing i could find on it was vega stamped on the wood dowel . i had to make a metal retainer to keep the rim and neck together but the rest is all there does any one know if this is a vega or something else
Vern
G Edward Porgie - Posted - 04/30/2014: 07:29:02
Vern, I seriously doubt that's a real Vega. A quick search of internet images should convince you that the stamp was an aftermarket add-on. Nice job on your neck retainer.
rockil - Posted - 04/30/2014: 07:34:06
thanks G edward i sure wish i could figure out who made this but i may never know i did look at hundreds of photos on the net but could never figure it out
Noah Cline - Posted - 04/30/2014: 15:19:42
quote:
Originally posted by guywolff
Great find Noah !!
Thanks, Guy! I would say that the Buckbee's probably more 1890's. The dowel is square, and has a brace. It's also painted black on the inside of the rim and the dowel, which I've heard of but is a first for me seeing it on a Buckbee. I was wanting to fix it up and sell it, but I'm afraid that BAS is kicking in and it won't leave the corner of my room where my banjos are. ;)
Noah Cline - Posted - 05/01/2014: 18:51:44
Update: Received the two banjos today. The Buckbee is going to need a little more work than I expected. The end bolt is stripped out of the end of the dowel, and the pot is out of round, leaving about a 1/2" space between the end of the dowel and the inside of the pot. I can, though, put pressure on the pot, and then the dowel touches. The neck brace screw also seems a little stripped (both screws had paper wrapped around them to hold them).
I looked at the inside of the head for any names, dates, etc., and found "Jack" (most likely the owner) written in Cursive near the heel to the left of the dowel, with the J and k being most dominant to see.
Hoping to get the head, strings, and tuners, which I may use some ebony ones, ordered tomorrow or Saturday.
bornold - Posted - 05/05/2014: 16:04:45
Hey Noah, post a ad when you fix one up. I may be interested as I am not a handy man if you know what I mean
Noah Cline - Posted - 05/07/2014: 12:02:41
Got the parts that I had ordered yesterday, put the head and the tuners on the Buckbee, remade the nut and made a bridge, and strung 'er up.
I'm really pleased with how it turned out, and it sounds really good. Will try to post pictures and a video this evening or tomorrow of it.
guitarman8491 - Posted - 05/07/2014: 12:09:42
Noah congrats on getting the Buckbee together..really like to hear ya playing it.
Noah Cline - Posted - 05/08/2014: 18:54:23
Here's the Buckbee! The original head had two wear spots of a two-footed bridge, so I thought I would make it another one, which I made out of some of the purple and brown poplar heartwood that I had left over from a mountain banjo build.
In the second video, I recorded both of my Buckbees to show the differences in sound and tone.
Edited by - Noah Cline on 05/08/2014 19:03:34
Joe Connor - Posted - 05/08/2014: 18:59:45
Wow, Noah, nice craftsmanship and nice playing. Well done.
bornold - Posted - 05/08/2014: 19:10:20
Great job Noah!
G Edward Porgie - Posted - 05/08/2014: 20:26:11
That's a nice banjo now that you've got it done. I really liked your playing of "Lost Gander." It seemed like the perfect match for that "new" Buckbee.
guitarman8491 - Posted - 05/09/2014: 05:25:34
Noah I agree with other posts..great craftsmanship and both banjos have very different but beautiful voices...cheers!
davidwigal - Posted - 05/09/2014: 07:06:28
Very awesome job Noah! This is one thing that you just have to love about the Banjo-Hangout, all kinds of awesome people from all over the world enjoying the beauty of the banjo. You have younger gentleman like Noah, who for age is very skillful and accomplished; then there are fellows like myself and some of my other friends here on the sight, that never picked up an instrument before and just have to heed that primal call of learning to play an instrument that many will never try because they think that they never can. Again thank you for sharing your efforts with us Noah you are an encouragement to all.
Edited by - davidwigal on 05/09/2014 07:07:30
henwaddle - Posted - 05/09/2014: 09:59:56
Great playing! Fixing up these old banjos is like rescuing a dog from the pound, it's the right thing to do!
Noah Cline - Posted - 05/09/2014: 12:18:27
I should have clarified that the picture of the two Buckbees that the one on the left wasn't restored by me.
Just wanted to show the differences between the two.
Sold the one that had the mirror in it before I could start to fix it.
knipknup - Posted - 05/09/2014: 12:25:41
Wow, I'm inspired. Just about 2 weeks from order to playing. Great job!
bigfiddle51 - Posted - 05/10/2014: 14:36:28
Yeah, just received the banjo from Noah, the one with the mirror. He was true to his word, it's just as he said. Looking forward to restoring it, may ask for advice from you all on Banjo Hangout. Any and all will be appreciated. Thanks, Jimmy
bigfiddle51 - Posted - 05/14/2014: 18:18:41
Can some one let me know what kind of strings to put on the old banjo...any help will be appreciated. Also, what would be the best way to find out what brand of banjo this is, there is no visible name? Thanks, Jimmy
Noah Cline - Posted - 05/15/2014: 14:39:36
quote:
Originally posted by bigfiddle51
Can some one let me know what kind of strings to put on the old banjo...any help will be appreciated. Also, what would be the best way to find out what brand of banjo this is, there is no visible name? Thanks, Jimmy
Jimmy, go with the Nylgut Classicals. All of the older banjos from the late 1800's like that one were strung with gut strings, but nylon today is a good substitute. Steel isn't really good for these old necks since they don't have any kind of reinforcing rod or truss rod in them, but I have heard people getting away with using light gauge steel strings. As thin as the neck is at the nut, I'd go with nylon.
As for the brand/maker, it's sometimes hard to tell with some no-names.
